March 3, 2007

Reparations is a non-starter. Slavery happened too long ago,in the century before last. But because reconstruction was a failure,and racism in America was so rampant and damaging, those ofAfrican American ancestry deserved a break. They got it in LBJ'sGreat Society programs. Of which, Affirmative Action, still exists.

Those programs had varying degrees of success and failure.Some have blamed those programs with the destruction of thefamily structure and work ethic in much of the African Americancommunity. This has some truth in it. It's a problem that requiresa solution from within the African American community.

There are things society can do, today, to help the poorerneighborhoods, regardless of race or ethnicity. They can providebetter public transportation, better K through 12 education,legalize marijuana, and decriminalize cocaine and heroin,the latter of which would reduce the power and influence ofthe gangs.